Power Supplies and Temperatures

[Inositle]

I was reading some comments on a Sparkle PSU I'm thinking about buying (350W), and I kept noticing people commenting on how the new PSU lowered their temps on their Hard Drives.

How can a better PSU lower the temps of your hard drive, and can it lower the temps of anything else?

Right now I'm using a cheap PSU that came with my cheap 40'ish dollar case.

[stan03]

where did you see that? i don't see how it is possible either...

[pik4chu]

it may have a LITTLE affect if the psu's fan is inline with the drives and perhaps sucking some of the hot air away from them and ut the back of the case... but other than gain maybe one degree at most, I dont think so

[Inositle]

Sample Sparkle 350W PSU review off newegg:

If you have an AMD XP chip, this PS is where its at. Before with Allied, my hard drive temp got up to 50 C. Now it runs at the most 40 C. Performance is has noticablly improved also.

[pik4chu]

meh.. they proly did something else and not think about it.... unless like more stable 12 and 5 volt rails cause hard drives not to get as hot.. even though that doesnt make sense either.... I dunno. where's larva when we need him? Someone explain how (and if) this is actually possible please?

[larrymoencurly]

Could it be that the Fortron/Sparkle simply has better air flow because of a faster spinning fan or more vent holes in its case?

I drilled a couple hundred holes in the case of a cheap 300W (along the front of the top, to maintain air flow over the heatsinks) and felt more air flowing out of it than before.

[Dr. Possum]

The guy probably just got mixed up and meant motherboard or something.




~DP

[rogerdugans]

Sample Sparkle 350W PSU review off newegg:

If you have an AMD XP chip, this PS is where its at. Before with Allied, my hard drive temp got up to 50 C. Now it runs at the most 40 C. Performance is has noticablly improved also.

rofl :D

I have $100 USD that says that was written by somebody who does not know the difference between the terms "hard drive" and "case" or "motherboard" !!!

I am sure most (if not all) of us have known people who referred to the computer (ie.: case with all components inside) as the "hard drive" or "cpu."

This is yet another case of that- guaranteed. ;)

A psu may give lower case/system temp if it has better air circulation built into it, or is more suitable for the size of the electrical load-
To explain that last: a 350watt psu that has 350 watts of juice being pulled out of it will be considerably hotter than a 450 watt unit delivering 350 watts. Any equipment running at or near max. capacity is working harder than equipment running at 50% capacity so it gets HOTTER.

I hope that helps clear things up a bit.

[pik4chu]

Originally posted by larrymoencurly
Could it be that the Fortron/Sparkle simply has better air flow because of a faster spinning fan or more vent holes in its case?

I drilled a couple hundred holes in the case of a cheap 300W (along the front of the top, to maintain air flow over the heatsinks) and felt more air flowing out of it than before.

but that wouldnt affect your HDDs ;) ...see rogerdugan's reply, heh.



and yes roger, how true. im almost killing my junky 350 Watt CompUSA psu with what its running..... can cook steak and eggs on it if ya wanted too :)